The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Macular translocation with 360° retinotomy for wet age related macular degeneration.

Description

Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disorder that causes problems with central vision (seeing things straight in front of you) and affecting the part of the retina (the back of the eye) called the macula. Wet macular degeneration happens because fluid leaks into the area under the macula causing scarring.

The aim of macular translocation is to improve vision. It involves cutting and moving the macula on to a nearby healthier area of the choroid layer. The macula is moved from its normal position by making a cut around the edge of the retina. This is called macular translocation with 360 degree retinotomy.

OPCS4.6 Code(s)

For the 1st stage of the procedure the following OPCS-4 codes are selected:

C83.2 Macular translocation three hundred and sixty degrees

C79.6 Internal tamponade of retina using liquid

Includes: Internal tamponade of retina using oil or heavy liquids

Y70.3 First stage of staged operations NOC

2nd stage:

OPCS-4 codes for the second stage of the procedure will be dependent on which muscles are divided and reattached.

In addition ICD-10 code H35.3 Degeneration of macula and posterior pole is assigned.

The NHS Classifications Service of NHS Connecting for Health is the central definitive source for clinical coding guidance and determines the coding standards associated with the classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) to be used across the NHS. The NHS Classifications Service and NICE work collaboratively to ensure the most appropriate classification codes are provided. www.connectingforhealth.co.uk/clinicalcoding